4ES-4 Method

4ES-4 method Information about the method Proposer(s): Trần Hoàng Việt Proposed: 2022 Alt Names: none Variants: Hoya-style, X-Cross, other methods (Roux, ZZ...) No. Steps: 7 No. Algs: None Avg Moves: ~150 STM Purpose(s): 4x4 Speedsolving

About

4ES-4 is a method created by Tran Hoang Viet, a Vietnamese cuber (Youtube Channel: THV Rubik) and first got the idea on April 28, 2022. 4ES-4 stands for 4 Edge-pairing Stages - 4x4, i.e. 4 edge-pairing stages on 4x4. This is a hybrid edge pairing method between Yau and Hoya and is still used for CFOP as those two methods. This method is created to optimize the edge pairing step compared to Hoya and has less impact on the center than Yau, so the number of moves will be slightly lower and will be more suitable for big cubes from 5x5 onwards.

Step

1. Solve U,D center
2. "z rotate",then solve two adjacent cross dedge
3. Solve any two adjacent center and place at D,B.
4. Solve one cross dedge and place at DR
5. Pair any 3 edges and place at DB,BR,FL.
6. Last two centers (L2C)
7. Pair up the remaining dedges
8. Solve as 3x3 (plus parity)

Pros

1. There are several advantages of both Hoya and Yau

1. Look ahead is relatively good

1. Better edge pairing than Hoya

1. Less rotation

1. Mostly 3Rw, Lw, Rw, L, R, U, F, very few D.

Cons

1. Two adjacent Cross edges will have less freedom than Yau

1. In 3x3 stage you have to solve the remaining 2 Cross edges

1. L2C is more difficult to solve

External link

Trần Hoàng Việt 4-ES4 Tutorial (Vietnamese)